13th Street a fair fight? NOT!

To hear the 13th Street merchants speak at the special Joint Hearing
of 3 City boards April 23, you'd think every one of them was a
born-again cyclist and pedestrian. NOT! While many cycle recreationally,
it was their perceived 'enemies', those who want to shut 2 blocks
of 13th to cars, who actually rode bikes to City Hall that warm
spring eve.

While the merchants were arguing that eliminating cars would put
pedestrians at risk from cyclists, an older pedestrian told the
truth: cars terrorize pedestrians every day in Boulder. Indeed
2 blocks away right after the meeting a man was struck and put
in serious condition with a broken neck and leg. 6 weeks earlier,
3 pedestrians were hit, with 2 broken legs and critical head injuries
among them. Blame it on those lycra-clad cyclists, 2 of whom were
killed in town in the last 2 years, not by pedestrians, but by
cars.

Our friend announced a Senior's protest at this fall's 13th Pedestrian
Conference, where the City congratulates itself (about $30,000
worth) for its prize from Walking Magazine for being one of the
10 most pedestrian friendly cities in America. NOT! Any 10 small
cities in California would be safer, because drivers there stop
for pedestrians. Credit the City's PR machine.

The merchants also argue that closing 13th from Walnut to Spruce
would reduce the Mall's visibility. NOT! If we were closing Broadway,
I'd agree- many people discover the Mall passing by on Broadway.
But everyone agrees 13th is a linear parking lot, not a through
street. Indeed the Mall would become more visible from Spruce
and Walnut, which carry more traffic.

Closing 13th would help implement 2 goals of the Boulder Valley
comprehensive plan- reducing auto traffic and creating a transport
system appropriate to a compact community with auto-free zones.
There are some 2000 blocks of street in Boulder. 4 are closed
to cars- the Pearl Street Mall. We are asking for a modest 2 blocks
more- and these blocks are shorter than the Mall's. Remember,
the City spent $9500 on prizes alone for a design competition
for 13th in 1985. All entries involved closing 5 blocks of 13th
from Arapahoe to Pine. We just want the City to show good faith
by starting with the 2 blocks that are already a pedestrian zone.

It is outrageous to see the Planning Department using our taxes
to fight the City's abandoned plan resurrected by citizens who
actually practice what they preach. But it's NOT enough that our
employees fight us- they cheat:

In 1990 I asked the Bike Coordinator what happened to the 13th
Street plan. She said it was important and would call a meeting.
Later that summer I asked what happened. She said the meeting
was held while she was on vacation, and the matter dropped. Were
she or I or you invited? NOT!

Last summer the City hosted a "Design Charette" at the
Boulder Theater for celebrity designers and the public. The Planning
Department's review of 13th Street proposals mentioned several
ideas that were NOT discussed at the Charette, but left out one
that was- closure.

With persistence, the closure plan was added to the September
16 Open House on bike paths at the Boulderado. Planning's document
for the Joint Hearing mentioned the Open House, but NOT the result
of the voting- closure 57%, all other plans 43%!

Planning has been compiling lists of pros and cons of the various
plans. After many phone calls and a meeting with Planning's new
director, I finally felt the lists were fair. But Planning's document
and presentation at the Joint hearing were NOT:

One of the old cons was that closing 13th would block off access
to the United Bank parking lot. I explained to our professional
planners that access could simply be moved around the corner onto
Walnut. Oh yes, they said, that would work. Now they're saying
closure would block the County Building exit. Same 'problem',
same solution: move the exit around the corner to Spruce. Why
do I have to explain this to the 'pros', twice?!?

Another of Planning's new cons is that without cars, conflicts
between pedestrians and cyclists could arise, like on the Broadway
path. For months I've been asking the City Bike Program for signs
distinguishing the bike and pedestrian lanes on the Broadway path.
Why doesn't Planning ask for signs instead of complaining? Besides,
our plan gives pedestrians very wide sidewalks raised above the
bike path, unlike the Broadway path.

It's time Planning stopped prostituting itself for the merchants
and started solving problems instead of inventing them. They are
biting the hand that funds them! Closure is by far the best way
to implement the Downtown Plan Steering Committee's 9 Strategies
to improve downtown, agreed to by the City Council and the 3 Boards.

Closure is also the best way to implement the Boulder Valley Transportation
Master Plan goal of a transit system "competitive with the
single occupant car in convenience, user friendliness, travel
time, image, affordability and accessibility." The bicycle
wins (in town) in all categories except image, which seems to
be the only value held by City government anymore.

The facts are in: closing Pearl Street was the best thing that
ever happened downtown. When the 2 blocks of 13th are closed for
weekend special events every summer, business booms. Let's try
a trial closure and see. The best use of the $1 million of real
estate the 56 parking spots in question use is for outside dining,
sidewalk sales and street entertainment.

Please show support by writing the City Council, (Box 791, Boulder
80306), the newspapers, or coming to the final public hearing-
Tuesday May 19 starting at 7:30 at City Hall, the SW corner of
Broadway and Canyon. For more info call me at 444-3596. Ask them
to put your money where their mouth is!